Short Description
The collection of cryptogams at the NHM Vienna, Department of Botany archives an estimated 1.5-2 million specimens of algae, fungi, lichens, mosses, horn-, and liverworts. The general herbarium contains the majority of objects. Due to their enormous importance for science, the collection of type specimens is stored separately. Other key collections kept separately are those of A. Grunow (diatoms), F. Petrak (fungi), A. Zahlbruckner (lichens), E. von Friedrichsthal and J.B.W. Lindenberg (liverworts), J. Baumgartner and V. Schiffner (mosses). The cryptogam herbarium archives a broad variety of objects: For example, Grunow’s diatom collection includes his accession books, samples of diatomaceous earth, drawings, microscope slides, and annotated literature.
Contact Person
Dr. Tanja Schuster
Research Services
Taxonomic identifications possible upon request
Tissue samples for DNA analyses available for research projects with cooperation partners
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
For necessary investigation of microscopic features several high end microscopes including imaging software are on site.